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Home » Recipes » Dessert

The Best Vegan Carrot Cake

Published: Apr 1, 2021 · Modified: Jan 14, 2026 by Shane Martin · This post may contain affiliate links.

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The absolute best vegan carrot cake recipe! Perfectly spiced and so easy to make, this cake is moist, dense, and topped with an amazing vegan cream cheese frosting made from cashews. Perfect for your Easter menu or anytime dessert, this vegan cake is completely oil-free, dairy-free, and delicious!

vegan carrot cake with three layers and frosting

This vegan carrot cake is amazing and my absolute favorite dessert. It uses simple ingredients, one bowl, and is so freaking moist. And, the fact it’s all done without oil, dairy, or eggs makes it that much more incredible.

I know many times you hear me say, “No one will ever know it’s vegan or healthy.” But, I’m telling you…NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW IT’S VEGAN AND HEALTHY! This thing will blow your mind.

Carrot cake has long been one of my favorite desserts and my mother-in-law makes, uhh excuse me, made one of the best. I took her recipe, tweaked it just a bit, and let’s just say…I’m good. (Shots fired in the carrot cake war, Gran!)

If you thought eating healthy and going vegan meant depriving yourself then think again, Patrick! It’s time for you to set the dessert table with this vegan carrot cake recipe. (Apologies in advance for the sore hand from all the high-fives you’ll be receiving)

vegan carrot cake batter with carrots, walnuts, and raisins.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For a detailed list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card down below.

Alright, let’s take a look and what you’re going to need for this healthy and delicious vegan carrot cake recipe. More importantly you’ll see what you won’t need…eggs, dairy, and oil. No, it ain’t gonna suck!

There’s actually two parts to this recipe, the cake and the frosting.

For the cake

  • Carrots: Honestly, I don’t know why I feel the need to list this because it’s the foundation of carrot cake. But, for the sake of argument, yes, you have to carrots in carrot cake.
  • Flour: whole wheat pastry flour is excellent for this recipe or you could also use organic unbleached flour. Other options you could use are whole wheat flour or white whole wheat. If you need your cake to be gluten-free I would suggest using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour. FYI, I have not made this recipe using gluten-free flour but have found this particular brand to be successful with other baked goods.
  • Pineapple: Most carrot cake purists say this is a big “no-no”, but I didn’t ask them, so… Pineapple adds extra flavor and natural sweetness to the cake. But, it’s also great for adding the moisture you need for a good carrot cake. You know, because we’re oil-free and stuff.
  • Applesauce, baking soda, and baking powder: Baking soda and baking powder obviously help the cake to rise. But, combined with the applesauce it also works as the perfect egg replacer.
  • Raisins and Nuts: This vegan carrot cake recipe is moist and dense, so the raisins and nuts add a very contrasting, but pleasing texture. If you have a nut allergy or just don’t like them feel free to omit them from the recipe.
  • Sweetener: I used a combination of maple syrup and dark brown sugar. But, you could also use organic cane sugar or just maple syrup. Yes, sweeteners of any kind are empty calories. But, they do have a place in a WFPB diet and that place should be reserved for dessert.
  • Flax: ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal is used to make flax eggs. It works just like real eggs would in baking. It helps to hold everything together. Here in the south, we call it…”the bindin’.”
  • Spices: Pumpkin pie spice is my personal choice. I use my own DIY recipe and keep a big container of it in the pantry because I use it in tons of recipes.
  • Milk: any unsweetened non-dairy milk will work. I typically use almond milk or oat milk for any baking. Soy milk works great too.
vegan carrot cake batter in glass bowl.

For the frosting

Carrot cake can be enjoyed as is, but a REALLY good vegan carrot cake should be topped with amazing vegan cream cheese icing. You won’t believe the richness and creaminess of this vegan cream cheese frosting recipe. All you need are 5 common ingredients.

Here’s what you’ll need…

  • Cashews: Cashews are always an excellent base for anything creamy. They’re neutral in flavor and tend to blend up very easily and creamy after being soaked.
  • Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: soy or oat are my favorites when making frostings and creams. But, almond will work if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Maple Syrup: for sweetening and adding that extra depth of flavor.
  • Acid: lemon juice or apple cider vinegar will work, but I typically use lemon juice. Either one will give you that sour effect that’s characteristic of cream cheese.

To make the frosting just throw everything into a high-powered blender and process until it’s completely smooth and creamy. If you only have a regular blender simply soak your cashews in hot water for 15-20 minutes.

cake batter in three pans.

How To Make Vegan Carrot Cake

I realize this might seem impossible at first, but trust me, it’s very simple. There are quite a few ingredients, but it’s very likely you have everything or almost everything in your pantry.

Here’s how…

  1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F and prepare your cake pan(s) by lining the bottom of the pans with parchment paper. Use one 9×13-inch pan, two 8-inch round pans, or three 6-inch round pans.
  2. Shred the carrots, make your flax eggs, and then set them aside.
  3. To a large bowl add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and whisk everything together.
  4. Mix the non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, sugar, and maple syrup together in a large measuring cup. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the flax eggs, and mix until everything is just combined.
  5. Add the shredded carrots, pineapple, applesauce, walnuts, and raisins and gently mix everything together until it forms a thick cake batter.
  6. Spoon the batter evenly into your prepared pan(s). Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is deep golden brown and a toothpick or knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. For the frosting: While the carrot cake is baking go ahead and make the vegan cream cheese frosting. Simply add all of the frosting ingredients to a high-speed blender and process until it’s completely smooth and creamy. Place the frosting in the fridge and let it sit for at least 30 minutes so it set up all nice and firm.
  8. Remove from the oven and let the cake(s) sit in the pan(s) for at least 15 minutes. Then carefully run a knife around the edges and gently flip onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
  9. Once the cake has completely cooled you may frost the cake however you desire. 

For best results when spreading the frosting use a wooden spoon or spreading spatula.

carrot cakes on cooling rack.

⏲ Baking Time

I say this and cannot stress it enough. Bake times can and usually do vary according to the appliance as well as the number of layers you wish to bake.

As you can see by the photos I baked a 3-layer vegan carrot cake. So, my cooking time was closer to 45 minutes. But, in general, with a single layer or 2 8-inch pans, it should be around the 35-40 minute mark. That being said, I would still use the toothpick method to test for doneness.

Also, the top of the cake should be a darker golden brown and should not be jiggly or spongey when you touch it. So, you shouldn’t worry about over-baking.

three layer carrot cake with dollop of frosting.

Storing and Freezing

If by some strange act of nature you should find yourself with leftovers this vegan carrot cake can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 7 days.

Yes, you can also freeze this vegan carrot cake! And, you can do it one of two ways.

  1. If you want to freeze the entire cake do it unfrosted. Once it is completely cool, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container. The carrot cake will keep well for up to 4 months in the freezer.
  2. If you want to freeze individual slices with frosting, place the leftover slices in the fridge so the frosting will firm up a bit. Then wrap the individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag. They should keep for up to 3 months.

Once you’re ready to enjoy the vegan carrot cake simply place it in the fridge overnight to thaw. This vegan cake is excellent cold or at room temperature.

vegan carrot cake with small carrots on top.

Pro Tips For Perfect Vegan Carrot Cake

  • Let the carrot cake completely cool! Allowing the cakes to completely cool will help the flavor develop. This cake benefits from lots of air-flow. If you’re in a rush place the cakes in the refrigerator or freezer until cool to the touch.
  • Pineapple. If using canned pineapple be sure and use one NOT packed in syrup. YUCK!
  • Use parchment paper. If you are not using a silicon baking pan always place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of your pans. It helps the cake to slide out much easier.
  • If any of your ingredients are cold allow them to come to room temperature before baking with them. They will mix together much easier than firm and cold ingredients.
  • Do not overmix! Yes, this vegan carrot cake is dense. But, overmixing will cause it to firm up and harden during the baking process. Dense and firm are not the same thing.
  • Follow the recipe. Weigh or measure the ingredients and follow the recipe. That is all.
  • Frosting: If you are making a single-layer vegan carrot cake you will have more than enough frosting. However, you will need to double the frosting recipe if you plan on making a two or three-layer vegan carrot cake.
  • Do not frost the cakes until they have completely cooled. If the cakes are warm the icing will soften and the layers will slide.
  • Refrigerate. You can totally enjoy this cake at room temperature. But, for an exceptional experience place the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes once it’s been frosted. Amazing!
sliced vegan carrot cake on cake stand with a pink background

Vegan Carrot Cake FAQ

Is vegan carrot cake healthy?

I wouldn’t say this is a “health food,” but it is oil-free, dairy-free, and uses no animal products at all. I would say it’s healthy. It also contains fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein. That being said, dessert is dessert. So even though it’s made with whole food ingredients it is still dessert. And, don’t make every meal dessert.

Can I freeze vegan carrot cake?

If you want to freeze the entire cake do it unfrosted. Once it is completely cool, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container. The carrot cake will keep well for up to 4 months in the freezer.

If you want to freeze individual slices with frosting, place the leftover slices in the fridge so the frosting will firm up a bit. Then wrap the individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag. They should keep for up to 3 months.

Once you’re ready to enjoy the vegan carrot cake simply place it in the fridge overnight to thaw. This vegan cake is excellent cold or at room temperature.

Can I make a gluten-free version of this recipe?

If you need your cake to be gluten-free I would suggest using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour. FYI, I have not made this recipe using gluten-free flour but have found this particular brand to be successful with other baked goods.

How do I grate carrots?

Use a standard box grater or the grating attachment for your food processor. It’s perfect for making shredded carrots.

Can I make vegan carrot cake cupcakes?

Yes. Follow the same instructions and use a muffin pan. You should get 12-15 cupcakes.

Two slices of vegan carrot cake on plates.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are some subtle changes and variations you can make that won’t hurt the structure of the recipe.

  • Add some unsweetened shredded coconut to the frosting or the cake.
  • If you’re not that big on the texture you can leave out the raisins and walnuts.
  • If you choose to omit the pineapple, which I don’t recommend, double the amount of applesauce. Remember, we’re not using oil so this is the source of your moisture.

You can also learn more about oil-free baking HERE.

One slice of vegan carrot cake.

Other Vegan Recipes Will Enjoy

  • The Best Vegan Banana Bread
  • Easy Vegan Zucchini Bread
  • Vegan Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

I hope you enjoy this delicious Vegan Carrot Cake recipe! Please be sure to leave a comment and a star rating. Peace and feast.

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The Best Vegan Carrot Cake

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5 from 34 reviews

The absolute best vegan carrot cake recipe! Perfectly spiced and so easy to make, this cake is moist, dense, and topped with an amazing vegan cream cheese frosting made from cashews. Perfect for your Easter menu or anytime dessert, this vegan cake is completely oil-free and dairy-free!

  • Author: Shane Martin
  • Prep Time: 15 mins.
  • Cook Time: 40 mins.
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 12 slices 1x
  • Category: Vegan Dessert Recipes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Vegan
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the cake

  • 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp ground flax + 6 Tbsp warm water)
  • 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour or organic unbleached flour
  • 1 Tbps pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup raisins

For The Frosting

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk or plant-based milk of choice
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F and prepare your cake pan(s) by lining the bottom of the pans with parchment paper. Use one 9×13-inch pan, two 8-inch round pans, or three 6-inch round pans.
  2. Shred the carrots, make your flax eggs, and then set them aside.
  3. To a large bowl add the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and whisk everything together.
  4. Mix the non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, sugar, and maple syrup together in a large measuring cup. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the flax eggs, and mix until everything is just combined.
  5. Add the shredded carrots, pineapple, applesauce, walnuts, and raisins then gently mix everything together until it forms a thick cake batter.
  6. Spoon the batter evenly into your prepared pan(s). Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is deep golden brown and a toothpick or knife inserted into the center comes out clean. You want the top to be a deep golden brown without any wiggling or jiggling. 
  7. For the frosting: While the carrot cake is baking go ahead and make the vegan cream cheese frosting. Simply add all of the frosting ingredients to a high-speed blender and process until it’s completely smooth and creamy. Place the frosting in the fridge and let it sit for at least 30 minutes so it set up all nice and firm.
  8. Remove from the oven and let the cake(s) sit in the pan(s) for at least 15 minutes. Then carefully run a knife around the edges and gently flip onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
  9. Once the cake has completely cooled you may frost the cake however you desire. 

Equipment

Gluten Free Baking Flour

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Wooden Cooking Utensils

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9 x 13 Baking Dish

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Parchment Paper

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Whisk

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White Whole Wheat Flour

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Image of Organic Unbleached Flour

Organic Unbleached Flour

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Mixing Bowls

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Maple Syrup

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Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

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Notes

Nutrition info is an estimate which includes the frosting recipe.

Let the carrot cake completely cool! Allowing the cakes to completely cool will help the flavor develop. This cake benefits from lots of air-flow. If you’re in a rush place the cakes in the refrigerator or freezer until cool to the touch.

Pineapple. If using canned pineapple be sure and use one NOT packed in syrup. YUCK!

Use parchment paper. If you are not using a silicon baking pan always place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of your pans. It helps the cake to slide out much easier.

If any of your ingredients are cold allow them to come to room temperature before baking with them. They will mix together much easier than firm and cold ingredients.

Do not overmix! Yes, this vegan carrot cake is dense. But, overmixing will cause it to firm up and hardened during the baking process. Dense and firm are not the same thing.

Follow the recipe. Weigh or measure the ingredients and follow the recipe. That is all.

Frosting: If you are making a single-layer vegan carrot cake you will have more than enough frosting. However, you will need to double the frosting recipe if you plan on making a two or three-layer vegan carrot cake.

Do not frost the cakes until they have completely cooled. If the cakes are warm the icing will soften and the layers will slide.

Refrigerate. You can totally enjoy this cake at room temperature. But, for an exceptional experience place the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes once it’s been frosted. Amazing!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 332
  • Sugar: 26.9 g
  • Sodium: 246.4 mg
  • Fat: 9.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 56.7 g
  • Fiber: 5.2 g
  • Protein: 7.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Carmela Congdon

    April 03, 2026 at 11:41 pm

    I have all ingredients except the dark brown sugar. Can I just leave it out or is there a healthier alternative to replace it in this recipe?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 05, 2026 at 1:19 am

      You could leave it out, but not sure of the outcome. Date sugar, maple sugar, coconut sugar, and sugar cane natural are all good replacements.

      Reply
  2. Diane

    June 13, 2025 at 6:45 pm

    My non-vegan family thoroughly enjoyed the cake. It is easy to make. Thanks for posting this recipe.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      June 15, 2025 at 1:59 pm

      Awesome!!! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
  3. TT

    April 20, 2025 at 6:27 pm

    Made this for Easter with a different frosting due to a cashew allergy. I used whole wheat pastry flour, subbed in monkfruit maple syrup and monk fruit brown sugar, and didn’t use walnuts and raisins because my son doesn’t like the added texture in cake. I made three 6-inch layers. It is really good! I will be making it again. My kids could have this for breakfast…it is so healthy! Thanks Shane!

    Reply
  4. Patti Barricelli

    April 12, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    Moist and super delicious! So simple to make. Shane’s recipes are THE BEST in the plant based world!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 12, 2025 at 5:58 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Paula Ord

    April 12, 2025 at 12:54 pm

    Anything to use as a cashew substitute?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 14, 2025 at 9:46 am

      If you are talking about the icing, silken tofu is possibility.

      Reply
  6. Lynn Jordan

    August 07, 2024 at 9:37 am

    Shane, I made this cake in 9″X13″ pan and it was sooooo good! I did it exactly by your recipe but left out the raisins and nuts just because I wanted it plain. I also made the frosting wondering how this would actually be a cake frosting but, it worked! lol
    Thank you for your wonderful recipes and all the time you spend making great vegan cooks and bakers out of all of us! My husband loves you too because he is WFPB and crazy about cake!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      August 07, 2024 at 6:06 pm

      Wow, Lynn! That is so great and I’m pumped you enjoyed the cake. It’s one of my favorite recipes.

      Reply
  7. Yovanca Popovich

    March 30, 2024 at 5:35 am

    Hi, I’m not a fan of pineapple in anything, can you suggest an alternative? I don’t use any refined sugars, you already add maple syrup, what would you suggest using over the raw sugar please? Could I turn this recipe into just one cake over the 3?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      March 30, 2024 at 11:07 pm

      You could replace the pineapple with unsweetened applesauce and just eliminate the sugar. You should be fine:)

      Reply
  8. Angela

    January 22, 2024 at 2:31 pm

    Hi Shane,
    Your recipe for Carrot Cake is so delicious! Carrot Cake for the past 30 year has been “the” birthday cake for my family and so happy your recipe is oil free and healthy. I just made it for my husband’s 70th birthday. I wanted to know how long your recipe for cashew cream cheese can be stored in the refrigerator. Thanks so much for your awesome recipes!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      January 23, 2024 at 12:57 pm

      Hi, Angela! The icing can be stored for 3-5 days. You could potentially store longer but as with cashews, they will turn brown the longer they sit. Tell your hubs, “Happy Birthday!”

      Reply
      • Angela

        January 22, 2026 at 8:14 pm

        Hi Shane,
        I made the carrot cake again today for my hubby’s 72nd birthday, which is Monday but due to the ice storm we are expecting in North Carolina we are celebrating tomorrow, Friday. Yummy. Love your recipes. You are the bomb!

        Reply
  9. Christina

    December 21, 2023 at 7:37 am

    Hi Shane,

    Thank you for your amazing recipes! I’m wondering if this one can be modified to make a carrot cake bread. I’m looking for something other than zucchini or banana breads for a change.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      December 22, 2023 at 4:49 pm

      It’s worth a shot!

      Reply
  10. Emily Marchant

    November 27, 2023 at 10:05 pm

    Hi Shane, I’m going to give this a first try on Friday night… Was thinking of making the cupcakes,,, would that be the same baking time of 35 + minutes?
    Also, I cannot find the types of flour suggested, either, I have a standard (bleached, I’m afraid) all-purpose flour and a little bit of regular whole wheat flour (like I use for your AMAZING beer bread)… Would it be okay to mix the 2 flours to equal up to the 3 cups needed?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      December 01, 2023 at 12:38 pm

      Hi, Emily, sorry I’m so behind on the comments. The baking time should be about the same but I would keep an eye on the muffins. Also, you will be fine to mix the flours, it shouldn’t pose a problem.

      Reply
      • Emily

        December 04, 2023 at 10:15 pm

        No need to apologize, Shane, you were right on time! Literally starting bringing out the ingredients when I saw your reply. This was wonderful! This batch made 2 x 8″ rounds and 4 cupcakes (cause I wanted to try them before the cake would have been cooled down!)
        My little tweaks: For the Cake: I did use half and half of the flours mentioned above and we used pecans rather than walnuts (again, just what we already had. I did squeeze, not just drain, a lot of the pineapple juice out of the crushed pineapple – goodness, that’s a job in itself, but made a yummy drink with it!, Also, I used regular white sugar, just under the amount suggested, since I didn’t have brown (I gently microwaved and stirred every 15 seconds in the other liquid ingredients or so so it dissolved a little and then let it get back to room temp before mixing it with everything else). I let them bake for 35 minutes, I took the cupcakes out at 30 minutes. Both were great times, will do that again.
        Then for the Icing: per reading all the comments, I used 1.5 cups of the cashews rather than the 1 cup. I may even try 1.75 cups next time to make the “icing” a little thicker. I have a regular blender, so I did soak the cashews as suggested in hot water for 15+ minutes. It was not white like your picture, nor does it taste like cream cheese frosting, but who cares, it was so yummy! I loved it, not overly sweet, but the two biggest compliments were from a co-worker whose FAVORITE cake in the entire world is a Carrot cake (I did not yet tell him it’s vegan, we’ll save that for another day) and of course, My Hubby – who is a picky eater, loves sweets and he’s had about 1/2 the cake by himself!

        Reply
  11. Dorothy

    November 11, 2023 at 9:09 pm

    Hi Shane – Can you please clarify as to whether the crushed pineapple should be drained or not? In response to one comment you said ‘no’ but said ‘yes’ to another. Just want to be sure I have the best result when I make this. Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      December 01, 2023 at 12:39 pm

      Hi, Dorothy, yes you should drain the pineapple. I’m sorry for the confusion and will edit accordingly. Thanks!

      Reply
  12. Daphine Kaniaru

    June 29, 2023 at 1:15 am

    I always love your recipes since they are easy and oil free. Searched for your cake recipe and this came up. I made it for my son’s birthday and it was amazing!!! We all loved it! Absolutely delicious and healthy!!
    Thanks Shane!!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      June 29, 2023 at 5:26 pm

      Wow, that’s so awesome! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  13. Frances

    April 24, 2023 at 7:33 am

    For the icing, what can be substituted for the cashews? Could I use tofu and/or oats instead as I don’t eat nuts.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 24, 2023 at 1:44 pm

      Extra firm silken tofu by Mori Nu could work. Try using this recipe as a base but adjust the flavor. Let me know how it turns out!
      https://shaneandsimple.com/tofu-chocolate-mousse-recipe-vegan/

      Reply
  14. Lucille

    April 10, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    Yummy, yummy, yummy!!!!!
    Thanks so much for the recipe.

    Reply
  15. Helen

    April 03, 2023 at 8:49 pm

    Made this yesterday. Our family gives it 5 stars!
    The frosting compliments the cake.
    Your recipes make it a joy to eat healthfully!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 04, 2023 at 5:16 pm

      Oh, yeah!!!

      Reply
  16. ELEANOR STANLEY

    April 03, 2023 at 4:41 pm

    Mr Shane Martin: If I were to use an 8oz can of crushed pineapple in juice, would I drain the pineapple or use the entire can with its juice? Thx for your advice.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 04, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      I usually drain it.

      Reply
  17. Rita

    April 01, 2023 at 6:25 pm

    Help Shane – the cake looks wonderful but I’m VERY allergic to pineapple – so what suggestions do you have for a substitute????

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 02, 2023 at 11:42 am

      You can leave out the pineapple and sub in applesauce.

      Reply
    • Katharina Dulckeit

      April 03, 2023 at 2:20 pm

      I am also allergic to pinapple! Someone further down in the comments left it out and subbed with an extra cup of carrots. Betwee. That or extra applesauce I don’t know which would be better. Maybe some kind of combo?

      Reply
      • Shane Martin

        April 04, 2023 at 5:17 pm

        Applesauce is a good option to replace the pineapple.

        Reply
  18. Marina

    February 10, 2023 at 6:17 pm

    I don’t know how I found this but it is an absolute blessing! I was drawn to it because of the amount of shredded carrots (I did not use the pineapple,but just added another cup of shredded carrots) and shut the front door!!! This carrot cake is amazing! After making your mayo I was so impressed I made this for my son and DIL without ever tasting it myself until we cut into it at their place. I just knew it was going to be good, but not THAT good. Thank you – I will be trying many more of your recipes – this was delightful.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      February 11, 2023 at 12:45 pm

      Marina, that is so great, and welcome! Thank you for reaching out.

      Reply
  19. LouAnn

    December 29, 2022 at 10:10 am

    Could date paste be subbed for the maple syrup??

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      December 29, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      Sure thing, but date syrup is even better.

      Reply
  20. Emily

    December 03, 2022 at 8:50 am

    Hi Shane- This recipe looks great. I was wondering if I can use fresh pineapple for this recipe? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      December 06, 2022 at 11:31 am

      You should be able to with no problem. The recipe calls for pineapple so as long as you use the specified amount there should be no problem.

      Reply
  21. Sue

    October 29, 2022 at 6:06 pm

    Absolutely loved this cake and my husband (who is not vegan) liked it too! Will definietely be making this again and adding this recipe to my collection! Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      October 30, 2022 at 12:37 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  22. Anne-Marie

    July 05, 2022 at 7:57 pm

    Excellent cake ! Thanks for the recipe !

    Reply
  23. Magy

    March 18, 2022 at 3:21 pm

    YUM! I made this cake once last weekend with 1/4 c. date sugar and the rest maple syrup. It was sensational, but I needed more cashews in the frosting to make it the perfect consistency, even with lots of fridge time. I just made it again, with 1/2 scant cup maple syrup, 1/4 date sugar, and 1/4 date syrup. For the frosting, I used 2 c. cashews, 1/3 cup milk, 1/4 maple syrup, and 1.5 T lemon juice. PERFECT texture/thickness after refrigerating for 15 mins. Thank you so much for this recipe, it is my new favorite dessert! It has gotten lots of great feedback from sugar and oil-eating carnivores too!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      March 18, 2022 at 6:11 pm

      Magy, thank you so much!

      Have a great weekend. Blessings.

      Reply
  24. Rochelle

    January 15, 2022 at 7:15 am

    Love this carrot cake!! I’m fairly new to vegan cooking and I wanted to test this cake out for a special occasion. Perfect!! The pineapple really adds to the deliciousness. This vegan carrot cake will be enjoyed for many future events. Thank you so much Shane!

    Reply
  25. Audrey-Anne Painchaud

    August 28, 2021 at 9:11 pm

    Hi! I juste did this cake ans I was wondering : is it normal that the cake is still spongy on the inside after it has been bake 1h? I let it cool in the pan and it still is spongy…

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      August 29, 2021 at 6:08 pm

      Hi, Audrey! It is a very dense cake.

      Reply
  26. Kerry

    July 07, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    Hi Shane! Love this recipe, wondering if I can substitute a cup of flour for oat flour or rye flour.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      July 08, 2021 at 11:23 am

      Oat flour should work fine.

      Reply
  27. Maureen

    June 26, 2021 at 8:27 pm

    Hi Shane. I made your carrot cake today for my husbands birthday tomorrow. I can’t taste it but it looks delicious. But my frosting is watery. I followed the recipe to a T. Soaked the cashews and used my nutrition bullet.Its very creamy but not thick enough. WOuld you have any suggestions on how to make it thicker? I love all your recipes.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      June 27, 2021 at 11:18 am

      Thanks, Maureen! Allow it to sit in the fridge for a bit and it will thicken. You could also add a few more cashews and blend.

      Reply
  28. Loretta Reust

    June 23, 2021 at 5:44 pm

    I really loved the cake recipe. I’m not sure about the frosting. It came out a little more gooey than I was hoping. And the frosting was sort of an ugly beige color, not as white as the picture. Between the cashews, vanilla and maple syrup, it was light beige.

    Reply
  29. Diane M

    June 04, 2021 at 7:03 am

    This carrot cake is delicious.. Made it 3 times so far and a big hit each time. Thank you Shane for sharing.

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      June 04, 2021 at 10:19 am

      Thank you so much, Diane! If you wouldn’t mind, I’d really appreciate you giving it a star rating. It helps me with the “powers that be” in the mighty Google tower:)

      Reply
  30. Betty Pack

    June 03, 2021 at 5:34 pm

    Should the juice be drained from the pineapple?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      June 04, 2021 at 10:24 am

      No.

      Reply
  31. Naomi

    June 03, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    Can I use date sugar instead of brown sugar?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      June 04, 2021 at 10:26 am

      Hi, Naomi! I haven’t personally tried it but see no reason why it wouldn’t work. The only issue that could arise is date sugar doesn’t dissolve quite as well as brown sugar. But, hey, cake is cake:)

      Reply
  32. BECKY

    April 27, 2021 at 8:57 pm

    This was phenomenal!!! Thank you for being so generous and sharing with the world. :]

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 28, 2021 at 9:24 am

      Thank you so much, Becky!

      Reply
  33. Paulette Mack

    April 17, 2021 at 10:44 pm

    This carrot cake recipe was delicious and so like my non-healthy version that no one guessed I had switched up recipes! I haven’t yet tried the frosting since one of my guests was allergic to nuts but I’m looking forward to trying it soon! Thanks, Shane!

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 20, 2021 at 6:29 pm

      Thank you, Paulette!

      Reply
  34. Karen

    April 08, 2021 at 4:52 pm

    This cake is fabulous. My icing didnt turn out as well as I had hoped, but it’s okay. I had to use my food processor since my Vitamix died (RIP)! Maybe that was the reason. Thank you for a wonderful recipe. Hubby has a birthday cake!! Thanks again~

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 10, 2021 at 9:08 am

      Karen, I’m so glad you enjoyed the carrot cake. Yeah, you will definitely have a better experience with a blender when making the icing. Have a great day!

      Reply
  35. JoAnne

    April 08, 2021 at 7:02 am

    Such a nice treat! I made 12 cupcakes and one 8″ layer and enjoyed 2 unfrosted cupcakes. Great for an occasional treat and stored the rest in the freezer. A recipe everyone can enjoy.

    Reply
  36. MKinTX

    April 07, 2021 at 11:53 am

    This cake was decadent! Made it for Easter dinner and it was a treat. So dense and so moist…and I even messed it up. I forgot to add the flax egg and pumpkin pie spice. 🙁 I managed to sprinkle the pie spice on top of the unbaked cakes in the pan but the flax egg was a goner. Guess what? It turned out amazing anyway. The flavor was great and the texture was like a dense carrot cake (may have been fluffier with the flax egg but who cares at this point, right?). Definitely like the tip for refrigerating it, it gives the cake a little extra something when it’s chilled. Shane, you’ve done it again. Keep on bringing us these “gonna save this to make again for my non-WFPB friends” recipes! You make living a WFPB lifestyle easy! Thank you!

    Reply
  37. Carol

    April 05, 2021 at 11:31 am

    This carrot cake was the grand finale of our Easter Sunday dinner and was the star of the show! Thanks for such a delicious and easy recipe.

    Reply
  38. Jwiltz

    April 03, 2021 at 5:59 pm

    These was excellent even without the frosting! Thanks for such an easy recipe.
    I do plan on frosting it tomorrow, but we couldn’t resist a sample today since it smelled so wonderful!

    Reply
  39. Judy N. 🇨🇦

    April 02, 2021 at 9:42 pm

    The absolute decadent dessert for a special occasion..Thanks Shane!!

    Reply
  40. Shane Martin

    April 02, 2021 at 3:50 pm

    The absolute best vegan carrot cake recipe! Perfectly spiced and so easy to make, this cake is moist, dense, and topped with an amazing vegan cream cheese frosting made from cashews. Perfect for your Easter menu or anytime dessert, this vegan cake is completely oil-free and dairy-free!

    Reply
  41. Colleen

    April 02, 2021 at 1:58 am

    How much pumpkin pie spice do you use?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 02, 2021 at 3:51 pm

      1 tablespoon. It’s in there now. Sorry:)

      Reply
  42. Karen

    April 01, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    Could you use a gluten free flour instead?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 02, 2021 at 3:51 pm

      Yes, it’s in the post. I would use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 or fine oat flour.

      Reply
  43. Dwayne Doty

    April 01, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    Will it turn out ok if we use shorgum flour?

    Reply
    • Shane Martin

      April 02, 2021 at 3:51 pm

      No, if you need it gluten-free use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free flour or fine oat flour.

      Reply

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Shane Martin

Hi, I'm Shane! I’m an average dude who loves to cook and eat good food that happens to be completely plant-based.

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